Shell retainer and dispenser



Dec. 16, 1958 R. L. ALTI CK 2,864,541

SHELL RETAINERAND DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1957 (D o I i 67 Fl 6 INVENTOR. 66 0 Rgberf LA] 7 161;

fig 7 M Chin S.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,864,54l Patented Dec. 16, 1958 SHELL RETAINER AND DISPENSER Robert L. Altick, Oswego, Oreg.

Application January 2, 1957, Serial N 0. 632,182

Claims. (Cl. 224-14) This invention relates to a means for holding and dispensing shells and more particularly to a device comprised of flexible material, such as a fabric or plastic sheet, advantageously used by hunters and sportsmen, providing means for storing shells prior to their use and also accommodating ready removal of shells as they are needed.

Various devices and contrivances have been proposed for holding and dispensing shells. None known to me has been completely satisfactory for a variety of different reasons. Some arrangements, for instance, havebeen limited by the number of shells that they may conveniently handle. The constructions employed for holding the shells are often inadequate, resulting in either inadvertent dropping and loss of shells -or difliculty in extracting the shells when they are needed. The intricate construction present in some devices has been reflected in a high cost of manufacture prohibiting the use of such devices to all but the most inveterate hunters. Some devices employing rigid shell retaining pouches are uncomfortable and subject to damage. Other arrangements have been characterized by a lack of flexibility, that is, they are designed for use with a specific shell size and are unsuitable for any but that specific size. Obviously, the purchaser of such a device is handicapped since the usefulness of the device is severely limited.

Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide a shell retainer and dispenser which takes care of the hereinabove described difficulties in a highly practical and satisfactory manner. 7 1

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for holding a supply of shells which includes a novel means accommodating the removal of shells from the device as they are needed.

The preferred shell retainer and dispenser of this inventionhas an elongated container portion comprised of a flexible material, such as fabric or plastic, adapted to hold a seriesof shells stacked end to end, one on top of another. The cross-sectional dimension of the container is preferably selected to be great enough to accommodate the largest of the commonly used size of shell, illustrated in the case of shotgun shells by the 12-gauge shell. The cross-sectional dimension of the container is maintained small enough so that smallershells, such as -gauge shells, tend, after being inserted in the container, to lie stacked within the container. The flexible nature of the material used in constructing the container assists in preventing pairs of smaller shells from wedging side by side within the container.

The container is provided with a novel closure means normally closing a portion of the container so as to hold the shells within the container situated above the closure means. The closure means includes a resilient spring mechanism which may be deformed manually against the resilience of the spring mechanism to enable shells to be removed from the container. The closure means is adapted .to handle a wide variety of shell sizes with equal facility and includes structure wherein shells positioned adjacent the closure means tend to be centered over the closure desired.

It is another object, therefore, of this invention to provide a shell retainer and dispenser which has a flexible container portion for storing shells stacked end to end therein and which has a closure means normally closing a portion of the container but which may be manipulated to permit extraction of shells either singly or in multiple numbers, the closure means accommodating a wide variety of shell sizes.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a shell dispenser and retainer of the type described wherein the closure means includes a resilient spring mechanism extending transversely of the container, the ends of the spring mechanism urging opposite sides of the container apart so as to close off the container but being adapted to be brought together to permit the discharge of shells from the container.

Another object is to provide such a shell retainer and dispenser wherein the spring mechanism closing the container portion is constructed so that shells tend to be aligned in correct position for ejectment during the intervals that the container portion is closed by the closure means. g

Another object is to provide a shell dispenser and re tainer having a container portion and a closure means therefor wherein the closure means comprises an elliptic spring mechanism extending transversely of the container portion and with the ends of the mechanism engaging opposite sides of the container portion, bringing together the ends of the elliptic spring mechanism serving to open up intermediate portions of the mechanism to present a pas sage for the removal of a shell.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a garment to be worn by hunters and sportsmen comprised of fabric or other flexible material which includes an elongated container portion running along one surface of the garment, the container potrion being provided with a closure means adapted to urge opposite sides of the container portion apart so as to close off the container portion, and to provide, in such a garment, a novel means for feeding shells into the container portion whereby the shells are readily fed into the container portion yet adequately shielded from the elements once they are positioned in the container portion.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a bib or apron adapted to be strapped on to a person and having a series of elongated shell container portions constructed according to an embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly broken away, of the upper reverse side of the bib or apron in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of'a spring mechanism such cordance with this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the invention is shown incorporated in a bib or apron, indicated at 10, adapted to 3 be secured about a wearer by means of a neckstrap 11 and waiststraps 12 and 13. Body portion 14 of the bib is comprised of a fabric, preferably treated so as to have some degree of water resistance and therefore protect the shells carried by the body portion from the weather.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 1, body portion 14 has a series of parallel pleats indicated at 16 through 21 presented on one side of body portion 14. As can be seen with reference to the upturned edge in Fig; l, the pleats are prepared by folding a continuous sheet of fabric to form the pleats and then stitchihgdciigitudb nally of the pleats and along the base of the pleats as at 22, 23, and 24. By so stitching the pleats, there is formed within the interior of each pleat a closed elongated chamber. In Fig. 1, a series of pleats parallel to one another have been so prepared to form a series of parallel container portion for the reception of shells.

Preferably, the pleats are made to slidably accommodate the largest of the shells most generally used. In the manufacture of an apron for shotgun shells, the pleats are made large enough to hold a series of 12- gauge shells end upon end. Pleats adapted to hold 12- gauge shells, if not made. excessively large, have been found to retain a series of smaller shells, such as 20-gauge shells, end upon end within the pleat without allowing the shells to skew within the chamber defined by the pleat so as to become wedged therein and without allowing the shells to become lodged within the chamber side by side.

At the bottom end of each elongated chamber formed by each pleat and extending transversely across the bottom end of each chamber is a closure means comprised of a spring mechanism with opposite ends of the spring mechanism engaging opposite sides of each container portion. The spring mechan sm urges opposite sides of the container portion apart, thereby to close otf the bottom end of the container portion and prevent shells, from,

dropping therefrom.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, the spring mechanism comprises a pair of spring steel strips 31,and 32 positioned side by side within the pleat and with the ends of one of the strips adjacent the ends of the other of the strips. The strips, in their untensioned position, lie adjacent one another with the ends of the strips urging opposite sides of the pleat apart. The strips are deformed slightly so that when opposite ends of the strips are brought together by manually squeezing together the opposite ends, intermediate portions of the strips spread apart from each other to present a passage for the removal of shells. Thus, the two strips form an elliptic spring mechanism normally closing off the shell containers or pleats. In the embodiment illustrated inFig. l, the strips in their untensioned position lie in planes generally parallel to the plane of apron 10. If desired, they may be positioned angularly relative to the plane. of apron lil as for instance at approximately right angles thereto, in which case the bottom ends of the pleats are held by the strips so as to project outwardly from the plane of apron 10.

The steel strips are positioned within thebottom of each pleat preferably with intermediate portions of the strips exposed to the interior of the pleat so that these portions may come in direct contact with the lowermost shell supported within the pleat. In this manner,;the lowermost shell in a pleat tends to position itself directly over the strips in an optimum position for ejectment upon opening of theclosure means.

Mounting of the strips within the shell container may be done in a number of ways. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, a hem 38 is first prepared along the bottom of the piece of fabric making up body portion 14. Apertures 36 and 37 are provided extending transversely of the hem. The ends of strips.31, 32 are inserted within the hem by inserting the ends through apertures 36, 37. The outer ends of the strips are con-- fined from unrestricted movement by the inclusion of cross-stitches 39, 41 running transversely of hem 38 outwardly of the ends of the strips.

By inserting the end of strips 31, 32 within hem 38, the ends of the strips are covered by the fabric of the hem and in this manner prevented from catching on to shells and impeding the removal of shells. The fabric of the hem, in other words, tends to funnel the shells inwardly between the strips into the passage between the strips when the ends of the strips are compressed together.

With reference to Fig. 4, additional means may be provided for directing shells between the strips during their removal from a container portion. In Fig. 4, strip 40 is provided with a depression along the top longitudinal edge of the strip and indicated at 42. By including a depression along the top of each spring steel strip, shells resting on the strips tend to be centered directly over the middle of the strips during the intervals that the strips are untensioned and closing the bottom of each container portion. When intermediate portions of the strips are then flexed apart by bringing together the outer ends of the strips, a shell resting on the strips is assured ample clearance for falling through the pas sage prepared between the strips. The depressions assist in preventing the shells from sliding to one side where full clearance might not be provided. The depressions are particularly advantageous when the ends of the strips are exposed as in the case of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 2, the bib or apron illustrated in Fig. 1 may easily be manufactured with a novel passage means for inserting shells into the elongated container portions of the apron. Each of the pleats or elongated containers could be filled by upturning the apron and inserting the shells through the closure means at the base of each pleat. This, however, requires for greatest ease that the apron be taken off which may not be practical in'some instances. As alternative, the top of each pleat may be left open and the shells inserted through the upper end of each pleat. However, such a construction would enable water and foreign matter to accumulate within the pleats unless a flap was provided to cover the end of the pleats. Generally, therefore, it is preferable that the top of the pleats or container portions be closed as by stitching 43 running along the top edge of apron 10.

A passage means for the insertion of shells may be provided by terminating the stitching running along the base of each pleat at a point below stitching 43 at the upper end of the pleat. Thus, in Fig. 2, stitching 44 and 45, corresponding to stitching 22, 23, and 24 illustrated in Fig. 1, is terminated a certain distance below stitching 43 leaving apertures 46 and 47. The apertures present access to the interior of each pleat, and through these apertures, the shotgun shells may be inserted into the pleats.

In operation, the shells are inserted with the base of the shell nearest the base of each pleat. The shell immediately adjacent the closure means of each pleat rides on the top of the elliptic spring mechanism for the pleat. When a shell is removed by bringing together the ends of the spring mechanism, the base of the shell first falls through the spring mechanism. If the elliptic spring mechanism is then released before the shell is entirely removed, the mechanism comes together and clamps against the body of the shell. The clamping pressure of the mechanism may be adjusted so thata shell will drop by its own weight from the mechanism, or the clamping pressure may be adjusted to be great enough to temporarily hold a shell. In the latter case, the shell, which has been partially removed, may be fully retracted by pulling the base of the shell downwardly. Since the base of the shell is somewhat wider than the body of the shell, when this procedure is followed, shells may be readily removed one at a time, the elliptic spring mechanism preventing a succeeding shell fiom falling out after the removal of a shell.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of this invention. In this embodiment, the body 51 of the shell retainer and dispenser is comprised of a transparent or semitransparent material such as a vinyl plastic or oiled silk. If the container portions of this invention are made transparent, the color of the shell casings carried by each container portion may be determined without removing a shell. This is particularly advantageous since the color of a shell casing often is used to indicate gauge size, load or shot.

It should also be noted that the elliptic spring mechanism of Fig. 6 is mounted in a manner diifering from the mounting of the mechanism in Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig. 6, the spring steel strips indicated at 52 and 53 are secured to opposite ends of the container 54 by means of rivets 55. An alternative arrangement is to rivet the steel strips at their ends to a common joining strip which may be comprised of leather or other material and then bonding with an adhesive or stapling the joining strip to the sides of container 51. When the ends of the strips are exposed, it is preferable to include a depression along the top edge of the strips as discussed hereinbefore and as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 illustrates another modified form of this invention. In this embodiment, elongated containers 61, 62, 63, and 64 are prepared in strips of material 66 and 67 which are then fastened as by sewing to a hunting vest 68.

Flaps 69 and 71, sewed to the body of the vest, overlie the upper ends of the elongated containers. The ends of the elongated containers in this instance are preferably left open to enable the containers to be filled without taking 1 olf the jacket or having to push the shells upwardly into the bottom of the elongated containers.

While the elongated containers of Fig. 7 may be stitched to the hunting vest, it should be obvious that the containers could be secured to the vest in some other way. For instance, they could be snapped in place with releasable snaps or, if they were made of a press-on adhesive backed fabric which is currently available, they may be secured in position by the application of heat and pressure.

The shell retainer and dispenser of this invention could be incorporated into a belt if desired.

The shell retainer and dispenser of this invention oflers a number of advantages including extreme flexibility accommodating as it does a Wide variety of shell sizes. The containers of the device, since they are flexible, tend to be worn comfortably and lend themselves to economical manufacture. The containers are provided with a closure means which can handle with equal facility a number of shell sizes. Since the dispenser and retainer of this invention is so well adapted for a number of different shell sizes, an embodiment of the invention utilizes container portions made of a transparent material enabling the contents of each of the containers to be seen from outside the containers. The closure means, while effective to close of! the bottom of each container portion, in addition serves to ready the next shell in the container portion for removal from the container portion.

Shells may be removed one at a time by the operation described hereinabove, or, if it is desired to clear out a number of shells, the elliptic spring mechanism may be compressed and maintained in this position until the required number of shells have been removed.

In some instances, it may be preferable to mount the closure means intermediate the ends of the pleats illustrated in Fig. 1. In this instance, the upper portions of the pleats would constitute the container portions of this invention, and the lower portions of the pleats would serve as guiding aprons for shells released by the closure means.

The loss of shells from the retainer and dispenser of this invention is effectively prevented. In the bib or apron construction disclosed, shells are prevented from falling out the upper end of the container portions by reason of stitching 43 extending transversely across the upper end 6 of the apron. The apron is worn tightly against the body of the wearer which prevents the shells from falling from apertures 46, 47. At the base of the container portions, shells are not retained bya clamping pressure but are held within the container portion through locking engagement of the closure means employed with the base of a shell.

While there has been described several embodiments of this invention, it is intended not to be limited thereto, and

it is desired to cover all modifications and variations which will be apparent to one skilled in the art and that come within the scope of the appended claims. It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A shell retainer and dispenser comprising an elongated container portion of flexible material adapted to hold therein a series of shells end to end, and closure means at the bottom end of said container portion, said closure means comprising an elliptic spring means having oppositely spaced complementary spring portions extending transversely of said container portion, opposite ends of said elliptic spring means engaging opposite sides of said container portion, said spring means urging said opposite sides'of said container portion apart so as to close said bottom end, intermediate portions of said ellip tic spring means flexing outwardly upon bringing together said opposite ends of said elliptic spring means to present in between said intermediate portions a passage for the furthercomprises means co-operating with said elliptic spring means directing shells held by said container portion into said passage when the ends of said elliptic spring means are brought together.

3. A shell retainer and dispenser comprising an elongated container portion of flexible material adapted to hold therein a series of shells end to end, and closure means at the bottom end of said container portion, said closure means comprising an elliptic spring means having oppositely spaced complementary spring portions extending transversely of said container portion, opposite ends of said spring means engaging opposite sides of said container portion, said spring means urging said opposite sides of said container portion apart so as to close said bottom end, the upper edges'of said spring portions intermediate the ends of said spring means being exposed to the interior of said container portion and presenting a support for shells carried within said container portion.

4. A shell retainer and dispenser comprising an elongated container portion of flexible material adapted to hold therein a series of shells end toend, and closure means at the bottom end of said container portion, said closure means comprising an elliptic spring means having oppositely spaced complementary spring portions extending transversely of said container portion, opposite ends of said spring means engaging opposite sides of said container portion, said spring means urging said opposite sides of said container portion apart so as to close said bottom end, the upper edges of said spring portions intermediate the ends of said spring means being exposed to the interior of said container portion and presenting a support for shells carried within said container portion, the upper edges of said spring portions having depressions formed therein indented away from the upper end of said container, said depressions tending to position a shell supported adjacent said spring means intermediate the ends of said spring means.

5. A shell retainer and dispenser comprising a body of flexible material, aseries of elongated container portions of flexible material arranged parallel to one another and presented on one side of said body, and closure means at the bottom end of each of said container portions, said closure means comprising an elliptic spring means hay.- ing oppositely spaced complementary spring portions extending transversely of a container portion with opposite ends of said spring means engaging opposite sides of the container portion, said closure means urging opposite sides of the container portion apart so as to close its bottom end and provide a support for shells carried within the container portion, intermediate portions of said elliptic spring means flexing outwardly upon bringing together said 0pposite ends of said elliptic spring mean'sto present in between said intermediate portions a passage for the removal of shells from a container portion;

6. The shell retainer and dispenser of claim 5 wherein the elongated container portions are comprised of atransparent substantially nonresilient flexible material.

7. A shell retainer and dispenser garment comprising a fabric body portion and means for attaching the body portion to the wearer, said fabric body portion having a series of parallel shell-retaining pleats arranged therein, each of said pleats having stitching along its base and, longitudinally thereof vto form within the interior of the pleat an elongated chamber, the upper ends of each of said pleats being stitched transversely of thepleat so as to close the upper end of the pleats, and closure means at the bottom end of each pleat for opening and closing the chamber formed by the pleat, said closure means comprising resilient spring means extending transversely of the pleat with the ends thereof engaging opposite sides of the pleat, said spring means urging said opposite sides of the pleat apart so as to close the chamber formed by the pleat and provide a support for shells carried within the pleat.

8. The shell retainer and dispenser garment of claim 7 wherein the closure means at the bottom end of each pleat for opening and closing the chamber formed by the pleat comprises an elliptic spring means having oppositely spaced complementary spring portions extending transversely of the pleat, intermediate portions of said elliptic spring means flexing outwardly upon bringing together oppositeends of said elliptic spring means to present in between said intermediate portions a passage for the removal of shells carried within the pleat.

9. The shell retainer and dispenser garment of claim 8 wherein upperedges of the spaced spring portions of an References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,556 Dudley Dec. 6, 1892 1,116,128 Rudloff Nov. 3, 1914 1,212,513 Langerman Ian. 16, 1917 1,224,842 Boyd May 1, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS 985,172 France Mar. 7, 1951 

